Heater



Oct. 4, 1932. 1 H, QQLUGAN 1,880,238

HEATER Filed Oct. `18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l A-zii Patented Oct. 4, 1932 LILLIS H. COLLIGAN, F NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT HEATER Application led October 18, 1929.

My invention relates to a heater and more especially to a heater suitable for use inv household heating plants or the like.

Generally speaking, the invention relates to Q a heater adapted to have mounted therein one or more heating elements, for example, electric resistance heating elements, and provided with means for eiiiciently and quickly absorbing the heat given o from the elements, 10, the heater being provided with a relatively large exterior surface area, whereby the heat absorbed from the elements may be readily transferred to a surrounding medium. In a more specific aspect, the invention re- 15 lates to a heater, having the above characteristics, which is in the form of a unit which may be readily placed in a furnace, stove, or the like, without any special modiiication being made in the latter. 2 To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a sectional view of a furnace having mounted therein a heater, according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the heater shown in Fig. 1, but on an enlarged scale, and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in which I have illustrated my invention by showing a preferred embodiment thereof, and with particular reference to Figs. 2 and 8, the reference numeral indicates, in general, my improved heater which, as shown, is in the form of a hollow drum made out of metal or other material capable of readily absorbing and conducting heat. In the present instance, the heater is provided with a cylindrical shell 11, having on the lower edges thereof an intel grally formed radially inwardly extending flange 12, provided with an opening 13 for the introduction of heating elements 14, which, in the embodiment shown, take the form of resistance heaters having cores 15 0. of iireproof material on which are wound helical coils 16 of resistance wire. rlhe upper Serial No. 400,679.

end of shell 11 is closed by disk-like plate or head 17.

In order to provide for a rapid transfer of heat from elements 14 to drum 10, I have provided a number of studs 18 on the inner walls of shell 11, studs 18 being conical in form land provided with relatively sharp points 1.9 directed towards and terminating closely adjacent elements 14.. In the form shown, these studs are integrally formed with respect to shell 11 and extend radially inwardly therefrom in parallel rows, the number of which may be varied to suit particular conditions. Head 17 is likewise provided with a number of conically shaped studs 20a, 20b and 20, extending downwardly from the lower face 21 of head 17, studs 2021,20b and 20C being provided with relatively sharp points 22. In the present instance, stud 2()c is relatively longer than studs 2Ga and 2Gb and extends downwardly between elements 14, while studs 201 are longer than studs 2Oa and terminate immediately above elements 14.

In operation, electric heating elements 14 are heated in the usual manner by supplying electric current thereto, the heat being rapidly absorbed by the pointed studs 18, 20a, 2Ob and 20c and conducted to shell 11 and end plate 17 which provide large exterior surfaces for radiating the heat or transferring heat to the surrounding medium.

The heater as a whole is entirely self-contained and may be placed in a furnace, stove, or the like, without the necessity of any special changes or arrangements therein, although in certain instances it may be advantageous to dispense withthe lire box or the like in ord-er to permit the heater to come more intimately into Contact with the draft of heat conducting air.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have shown my heater in use in connection with what is ordinarily termed a pipeless furnace. In the furnace shown, reference numeral 23 indicates cylindrical shell which is surrounded by a second shell 24: of larger diameter, the space 25 between the shells providing for a down draft of air which passes through radiator 26 into space 25, and thence through louvers 27 100 lli into the lower end of shell 23, there being a purality of spaced rows of louvers 27.

ounted on the interior of shell 23 midway between thel rows of louvers is a conically shaped baffle 28, having a centrally located enlarged opening 29, while immediately above the louvers is a second conically shaped baie likewise provided with a centrally located opening 31.

Mounted on legs 32 within opening 31 and slightly above opening 29 is a heater 33 of the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the air passing through louvers 27 being directed against heater 33 by baffles 28 and 30, and thence passing upwardly through the interior of shell 23 and through radiator 26. Baiies 34, 35 and 36 are mounted in the interior shell 23 above heater 33, in order' to retard the flow of air to a certain extent to permit a more prolonged contact of the air with heater 33. f

From the above description of the nature of my invention and its mode of operation, it will be readily understood that I have provided a heater which is entirely self-contained and which may be readily mounted in afurnace, stove, or the like, the arrangement of the heater being such that heat may be readily absorbed and transmitted from one or more heating elements mounted within the heater.

While I have shown heating elements in the 'form of electric yresistance coils, it will be readily understood that the invention is not I limited to heatingelements of this type, but

may be carried out with various other types of elements. Y

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the same is not to be limited to all the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a heating unit, a hollow body of heat conducting material having imperforate side walls, an imperforate upper end, andan open lower end, an electric resistance heating element extending into the body through the open lower end thereof, and means in the interior of the body for accelerating the transfer of heat thereto from said element, said last-named means comprising a plurality of studs depending from the interior surfaces of the body and surrounding the element on all sides except at the lower end of the body.

2. In a heater unit, a cylindrical shell of heat conducting material, a disk-like cover closing the upper end of said shell, said shell being provided at the lower end thereof with.

an opening, an electric resistance heating element extending into the shell through the opening, a plurality of relatively sharply pointed conicalstuds extending from the interior surfaces of the shell towards the element, and a plurality of relatively sharply pointed conical studs extending downwardly from the disk-like plate towards the element.

3. A heating unit adapted to be installed in a 'furnace or the like comprising a hollow drum or body, said body having a solid top wall and solid side walls but having an opening through the bottom Wall into the interior thereof, a plurality of electrical heating elements positioned in said body and insertable therein through said opening, the top and side walls of the body being provided with pointed studs projecting inwardly from the inner surfaces thereof, said studs projecting downwardly and laterally toward said heat elements and in close proximity thereto to be heated therefrom by radiation, and said drum and studs being formed of material having heat conducting qualities.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my v hand this 20 day of Sept., 1929.

LILLIS H. COLLIGAN. 

